There have been
a couple of stories making headlines lately that will make even the seasoned
travelers shake his or head in disbelief. You could call these examples tourism
mishaps. Let’s begin in Yellowstone
National Park. In early May, foreign tourists to the National Park (located
in the United States) found a baby bison. Wildlife sightings are incredibly
common, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that a baby bison was spotted. What was
surprising - the tourists apparently believed the young calf was freezing and
in need of attention. According to media reports, the tourists somehow loaded
the calf into their car and then drove the animal to the nearest ranger’s
station. The tourists were cited for their actions and sadly, the calf had to
be euthanized.

Thousands of
miles away on the other side of the globe, is Koh Tachai island in Thailand.
This island is defiantly a bucket list destination, or at least it was. Officials
from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation announced
that the popular island will be shut down to visitors indefinitely. Authorities
say overcrowding and the “degradation of natural resources and the environment”
have forced the closure. Even the rare blue coral had been damaged by tourists.

Whether you are
traveling to an International Vacation Home Exchange in a neighboring state or overseas, it is
important to remember some common rules to travel by so you don’t cause any
disruptions (or mishaps). This is especially true if you are traveling to a
foreign country where customs and laws may differ. Obviously, you should clean
up after yourself and you should probably not load up a wild animal into the
back of your car. But there are other rules that you should travel by while
visiting a different country so that you don’t have a tourism mishap.

Do your homework. Cultural customs differ from country to
country. For example, it is illegal for me (a woman) to drive a car in parts of
the Middle East. It may also be offensive for me to wear shorts in some
countries. So do your homework on customary behaviors and even gestures. Some gestures
that may be totally acceptable in your country may be completely offensive in
other countries.

Dress accordingly. If you are planning to visit a monastery
or church, dress accordingly. I remember during a visit to the Vatican and I
spotted tourists wearing cutoffs and tank tops. If you plan to visit a
graveyard or church, leave the bathing suit at home. On those same lines, it is
customary in many cultures to remove shoes when entering homes and religious
structures.

Patience is key. If you are from the United
States, you know that we tend to have a faster pace compared to other
countries. Dinner, for example, is maybe a 30-minute event in the U.S. In
Italy, dinner is more like a 2+ hour affair. Have patience and enjoy every
minute of your visit, even if you have to wait a few extra minutes (or hours)
for your entree to arrive.

Look don’t take. It is a felony in most countries to take artifacts.
Here in the United States, if you are caught taking an artifact or historical
item, you could go to prison. If you are touring a historical site and happen
to see an artifact, look but don’t touch or take.

Avoid public displays of affection. Even something as innocent a kiss can be frowned upon in some countries. In China, for example, public displays of affection are looked down upon in thatKnow the rules of the road. If you plan to rent a car to go and from your home exchange, be sure you know what side of the road you are supposed to drive on. In some countries, it is customary to drive on the left side of the road.

The most important rule is to respect and accept all culture customs. These customs may
seem weird to you, but that is okay. Half the fun of traveling is that you have
an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. Just have fun and leave the baby
bison alone (if you happen to stumble across one). And as always, safe travels.

My husband
always likes to say, “Lisa would drive 100 miles to see the World’s Biggest
Ball of Yarn.” He’s probably right on
that. Not that I have a strong affinity
for yarn but because I actually find these “off the beaten path” attractions
rather interesting. Don’t judge. Don’t get me wrong, I stared in awe at the
Eiffel Tower, Colosseum and Big Ben as much as the next gal but some of the
lesser known sites around the world have actually proven to be quite
memorable. Here are some of my favorite
“not-ready-for-prime-time” attractions.

This is a
real thing. This museum is located on
the grounds of Leeds Castle. It’s
actually quite an interesting little museum showcasing dog collar relics
(hopefully I haven’t lost you yet). Some
of these collars are from as far back as the 15th century. Many of the collars were made of thick iron
covered with long spikes and were worn by hunting dogs for protection. Other collars were ornate and less
functional. Some bear the arms of their
royal owners and were made of velvet or leather and adorned with jewels. Interesting, right?

Bath’s Post
Office was once located where this museum now stands and is where the first
recorded posting of a Penny Black took place.
The Penny Black is the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a
public postal system. The museum
contains many artifacts including quills; ink well, letters, postcards and post
boxes. A few years after visiting the
museum my kids received a trivia book for Christmas and one of the questions
was “Where was the first postage stamp used?” My kids proudly shouted out the
answer. Now if this question turns up on
my son’s SAT exam then it was well worth the 10 pound admission.

I’ll admit
this one was a bit of a circus attraction but we just happened to be walking by
during our visit to Wales so we stopped in. This house is as small as promised
with the dimensions being a mere 10’ x 6’ x10’.
If it makes you claustrophobic just thinking about it then imagine how
its last tenant, a 6’ 3” fisherman, felt.
Thousands of visitors each year from around the world actually come to see
this tiny little house and some even purchase a cheesy replica as a souvenir (I
keep it on my bookshelf).

Unusual
travel experiences aren't limited to just what you see. Where you choose to stay is another way to
add uniqueness to your next holiday. International Vacation Home
Exchange offers several property options that probably aren’t what
first comes to mind when you think of luxury home swap. Click here to view this yacht in
Newport, RI, this luxury schooner in
Turkey and this boutique
hotel in Phuket, Thailand .
These are just a few of the properties available for home exchange
through IVHE. International Vacation
Home Exchange has luxury properties located in 70 countries around the world
and that includes Texas, who has earned the bragging rights as Home of the
Biggest Ball of Yarn.

International
Vacation Home Exchange has properties all around the globe. If you want to
visit any of these properties, you are going to need two things: a sense of
adventure and your passport. Just one simple mistake can turn your tropical
dream vacation into a staycation at home. And these days, you can’t simply wing
it. Security is incredibly tight at any border in any country, so be sure you
get things squared away with your passport well ahead of your vacation.

Here are common mistakes that travelers
make with passports.

1)Missing Passport. If you rarely travel
abroad, it could be easy to misplace your passport. Especially if you have
moved recently. The worst thing that could happen is your flight is departing
in a matter of hours and you can’t find your passport. If you know where yours
is at (mine is in a safety deposit box) then continue reading. If you don’t
know where your passport is at, stop reading and go find it.

2)Forgetting to renew your
passport. Depending on what country you reside in,
you will likely need to renew your passport every couple of years. Some
countries have rules that state (in fine print) that passports must be valid
for six months or more. If your passport expires a few days, or even months,
before your departure date, you will not be able to enter the country you’re
trying to visit even with a birth certificate, driver’s license, blood sample,
and note from mom. Bottom line, check the expiration date to your passport. If
it is close to expiring, time to get it renewed.

3)Waiting too long to apply
or renew your passport. If you live in the United
States, it can take anywhere from six to eight weeks for the government to
process your application for a passport once they receive it. You can expedite
the process, but it is going to cost you. It can also take several weeks if you
are simply renewing your passport. Plan accordingly.

4)Errors on your application. If you have any mistakes on your application, your request for a
passport may get denied. You will then have to resubmit an application.
Crossing out errors on an application is a big no-no. Best advice is to fill
out your application using an online form and then printing it.

5)Conflicting names. If you recently got married and changed your name on your driver’s
license, then you will need to change your name on your passport. If there are
conflicting names between your license and your passport, you may not be able
to enter the country. You may be able to change your name on your passport for
free. Again it depends on the country you reside in.

6)Not enough blank pages. This one surprised me. Some countries require that you have at
least two to four blank pages in your passport. These pages are for customs
stamps. This rule is important if you are a frequent international traveler. If
you are, let me just say I am so jealous.

7)Wait, don’t forget about
the visa. Are you traveling to the Summer Olympics
in Brazil in August? Or checking out the Great Wall of China? You will need
more than just your passport. Several countries require that travelers also
have a visa. Obtaining and visa is whole process in itself (and a costly one). I
even wrote
about it a few months ago. If you have questions regarding visas, you can reach
out an embassy or do some research online. There are companies that will help
you through the process of getting a travel visa. I should warn you that if you
opt to use one of these companies, do your homework. There are scammers out
there on every continent that will try to rip you off. Be sure you work with a
reputable visa company.

Best advice is as soon as you book your vacation home exchange and your plane tickets,
to double check and make sure that your passport is up-to-date and not expired.
And as always, safe travels.

Have you met
that special someone and want to take it to the next level? Nothing will take it to the next level faster
than traveling together. Though
traveling together can be one of the most romantic things couples do, it can
also try patience and highlight any existing or potential issues.

Traveling with Your Love – A Crystallizing Experience

Traveling was
such a crystallizing experience for my cousin, he would take a woman he started
to feel serious about to Mexico
to watch her reaction. While he made
sure that the accommodations were first rate, he would also take his companion
out on the streets to see how she reacted.
If she incessantly complained, “It’s hot; it’s dusty; I want to go back
to the hotel,” this was usually a good indication that he and this woman would
not get along—he loves Mexico and wants to retire there.

Does Your Companion Mistreat Service Staff on Vacation?

I learned the
hard way to watch carefully how your traveling companion treats servers,
housekeepers, and anyone who takes care of you.
Though I had seen an old boyfriend treat waitresses poorly, it was only
magnified when we traveled; this is a bad
sign. When we were dating, I watched my
husband with interest when I felt he was too demanding with staff, but I also
saw him tip very well when we received great service—this was a good sign
(though I’m still trying to get him to be nicer overall). Tipping well shows that your companion doesn’t
want something for nothing, and respects the service he receives. We experienced great service from a waiter in
Mykonos
and pool attendant in Puerto
Vallarta in part because of my husband’s good tipping.

Is Your Companion the “Anything Goes” Type on
Vacation?

I didn’t know
this phenomenon existed until I was in my thirties. Some people are basically mild-mannered and
law-abiding at home, but when they’re on vacation anything goes. This
includes drinking, trashing accommodations, and promiscuity never even
considered in day-to-day living.
Everyone needs to let loose a little on holiday, but consider this: if your partner’s personality can change that
much on holiday, he already has it in him to change drastically in other
situations.

Is Your Companion Too Controlling on Vacation?

While everyone
appreciates someone taking initiative on vacation, someone who is too
controlling is trouble. Does your companion
ask what you would like to do on vacation?
Does she have to control the itinerary down to the hour? If you make a suggestion about what to do
does your companion get irritated or angry?
Beware.

If You Are the One Paying for Most of Your Vacation,
Does Your Companion Offer to Pay for Anything-Even If It is Just the
Housekeeper’s Tip or A Cup of Coffee?

Paying even for
something small shows that your companion wants to contribute and is grateful
for what you are doing (paying for a great holiday). Unless it is specifically understood that
one person will pay for the entire
trip, if your companion isn’t willing to make a small monetary gesture, this
could be trouble.

Staying Together in a Confined Space Like A Hotel Room
Can Be Very Revealing Indeed

Enough said . .
.

Does Your Companion Incessantly Complain?

There will
always be something that doesn’t go according to plan on holiday. Can your companion roll with a change of
plans or inclement weather? If your companion
complains constantly even when he is supposed to be having fun, this is an
indication of a lot more complaining yet to come.

Can Your Companion Relax on Holiday?

Does your
companion have to be engaged in an activity on holiday every spare moment? While it is good to be active and enjoy your
surroundings on vacation, if your companion is unable to relax, this can be
very stressful. If she can’t unwind on
holiday, how will she do so in day-to-day life?

Is Your Companion a Social Media Junkie on Vacation?

Social media can
be a real enhancement on vacation; sharing photos with friends or just keeping
a travel journal can be a lot of fun.
However, if your companion is constantly engaged with others on the
computer, and not you, will he be able to give you his undivided attention
ever?

Is Your Companion an Incessant Selfie Taker?

Let me just say
up front that the younger and cuter your companion is, the more leeway should
be given here. But after a while, it
gets irritating. Is “look at me in front
of The Acropolis” more important than The Acropolis? It might be something to consider . . .

Summer is almost here in the Northern
Hemisphere. Soon, the kids will be out of school and millions of people will be
traveling to vacation destinations all around the globe. If you haven’t booked
your International Vacation Home Exchange
yet, you may want to here soon. The same goes for flights, rental cars, and
passports (required if you are traveling abroad).

Though traveling is exciting for anyone,
it can also be incredibly stressful. I can almost feel a panic attack coming on
just thinking about security lines and currency exchanges. While you can’t
avoid the stress from standing in line at the ticketing counter, there are some
things you can do to help mitigate your stress level while traveling this
summer. And it will be a crowded and busy travel season, so be prepared.

Go
to the airport early. The days of showing up 30
minutes before your flight are over, especially if you are flying through the United
States. Already, there are reports of gridlocks in the security lines at
all major U.S. airports. This is only going to get worse before it gets better.
I would recommend that you show up at least 2 hours for your flight regardless
if you are flying domestically or internationally. If you have kids, add
another half hour to that 2-hour recommendation.

Get
your seat assignment as soon as possible. When you
book your airline ticket, look for your seat assignment. If it is not located
on the itinerary, call your airline and get a seat assignment. Most flights
will be booked. If flights are overbooked and you don’t have a seat assignment
when you show up to your gate, you may not be getting on the plane.

Make
a checklist. It doesn’t matter if you are veteran
traveler, you will likely forget something during the rush to the airport. So
save yourself the hassle and make a checklist of everything you need to bring
on your trip. And pack a few days ahead of your departure date if you can.

Check
in with your International
Vacation Home Exchange Coordinator. It never
hurts to check in and make sure your reservations are set and everything
(including payment) is taken care of so you don’t have any surprises when you
arrive at your destination.

Do
your airport homework. Yes, you have homework. If
you are flying through a major airport (i.e. LaGuardia, Heathrow, O’Hare) make
sure you know where you need to go once you arrive. Look at online maps to
figure out where the ticketing counters, security checkpoints, and rental car
kiosks are located. This is especially important if you have never flown
through these airports.

Check
out the local news outlets at your destination. As
your departure date approaches, it never hurts to know what is going on in the
city you are traveling to for your vacation. A quick Google search will bring
up the different media outlets for that area. You want to look at things like
the weather and if there are any big events (or conventions) that may be going
on while you are visiting.

Take
care of yourself. This is extremely important.
Stress can eat away at your immune system, leaving you susceptible to viruses.
No one wants to be sick for his or her vacation. As your trip approaches, be
sure to take care of yourself. Be sure you are eating a healthy diet and
getting plenty of sleep at night – both are easier when staying in a spacious vacation home.

And as always, safe travels to wherever
you may be headed this summer.

Thank
you to guest travel writer Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on Twitter at
@crobscarla.

With a day
of horse racing, fancy hats and hanging with the Royals, what’s not to love
about Royal Ascot. Its history dates
back to 1711 when it was founded by Queen Anne and has been a major event on
British social calendars ever since.

This epic
event is held in Ascot, Berkshire with this year’s festivities running from
June 14 to June 18 offering the best in thoroughbreds, trainers and jockeys the
world has to offer. We had the
opportunity to experience this gala event for ourselves and the day proved to
be every bit as memorable as we imagined it would be. Here’s a look inside what this grand affair
has to offer.

It’s All about
the Hat

We planned
on attending the race with a large group of friends so a few of the girls and I
decided to get the full experience and “hire” a hat from a well-known millinery
shop in Slough. Margaret, the shop owner
has been in the hat business for some 30 years and has the largest selection of
hats in the UK. She has provided many of
the hats worn to Royal weddings and other high profile events. Appointments need to be booked in advance and
we were told to bring our dress with us.
Her shop offers a breathtaking display of the most beautiful hats in
every color and style imaginable.
Margaret has a very strict set of rules in her shop that she demands be
closely followed. We were told not to
touch the hats, not to walk around and to just stand by the door until it was
our turn. When they were ready for us,
Margaret slowly made her way over.
One-by-one she examined our dresses, then left to fetch “The” hat. She solely made the decision on the hat with
no input from us, told us how it was to be worn, took full payment and told us
when to collect the hat and when it was due back. It was far from a “warm and fuzzy” experience
but we were happy to listen to her expertise and it certainly made for an
interesting afternoon.

The
Hierarchy of Seating

There are
several levels of seating at Royal Ascot:

Royal Enclosure: Invitation Only

Grandstand: Step below Royal Enclosure but still elite seating

Silver Ring: The most casual but still requiring smart dress

Since we
weren’t dining within the venue and somehow never received an invite the Queen,
we joined the many other attendees and arrived early with picnic lunches to
enjoy on the grounds. Other options
would have been to purchase picnic hampers from the venue itself or arrange to
have a picnic fully catered.

Seeing Her
Royal Highness

If you’re
looking for an opportunity to see the Queen in person, then Royal Ascot is your
best bet. The Queen arrives each day of
the race in a horse-drawn carriage. We
had to battle the crowds a bit but we were lucky enough to get about 15 feet
from the Queen. It’s always an amazing
experience seeing any of the Royals up close.
Even though no one in our group hit it big on the horses that day it
still proved to be an unforgettable day.

The airline lost your luggage, the
hotel can't seem to find your reservation, you left your passport sitting on a
deli counter, and you contracted traveler's diarrhea. That's pretty much the
worst case scenario for any trip. Luckily, it is incredibly improbable that you
would ever have to deal with a laundry list like this. However, even one of the
items on that list can thoroughly derail a holiday. If you don’t believe me,
just take a glance at these vacation horror stories. What is a traveler to do? Well, there is no foolproof way
to guard against the perils of travel, but there are a few tips for you to keep
in mind that just might help you prevent - or at the very least diminish - a
vacation emergency.

Tip Number One: The Backups
This is a great rule of thumb for any wary traveler. Whether through some fault
of your own, a robbery, or some kind of freak accident, the possibility exists
that you might become separated from your identification somehow. If you lose
your passport, you will want to alert authorities due to security concerns, but
your more immediate concern will probably be how the heck you are going to get
home. Thankfully, there are consulates around the globe that are dedicated to helping
with just these issues, but to make the process easier you should always ensure
that you carry a SEPARATE form of ID somewhere when you travel. If you keep
your ID and debit card in your wallet at all times, make sure you have a
passport or some other form of government issued ID in a separate location,
along with some cash or a credit card, in case of an emergency. In short, don’t
put all of your eggs in one basket – you never know when you might lose the
basket!

Tip Number Two: The Lifeline
This tip will come in handy if you find yourself in need of some help from the
home front at any point during your travels. When a vacation emergency strikes,
you will be very thankful if you have a designated helper. This person should
be a very trusted friend or family member, to whom you would feel comfortable
entrusting personal information. Make an arrangement before you travel,
informing your designated lifeline of your itinerary and all necessary info.
Ensure that they are comfortable with dropping everything in case of a real
emergency. You may need them to call airlines to make arrangements, enter your
house to get documentation, or to otherwise be there as a coordinator from the
home base. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your lifeline, but you might
sleep better knowing that you have one.

Tip Number Three: The Exit
Strategy
Whether you are suddenly ill or some emergency calls you away from your
vacation early, you may someday need to change plans on a dime. Make sure that
before you disembark you have collected all of the info you might need to get
home – from the airline help desk number to the rental car information – all in
one place and easily accessible. With everything in one place, if you find
yourself needing to change your arrangements, you can do so seamlessly, without
having to track down contact or travel information.

Of course, most of the time your
trip will go off without a hitch (or at least sans vacation emergency), but
following these three tips will help ensure that, should something unexpected
occur, you avoid a major headache and get home safe and sound. Those who are
particularly concerned may even consider travel insurance. You should be focused on enjoying your trip, so make sure
you prepare well in advance and you will be free to relax without interruption
or worry.

Thank you to travel writer Emma Sledge.

IVHE note - no body likes problems while on vacation, but having a nice vacation home to relax in when thing go wrong can certainly help make things better.

About 5 years ago, I decided to try this
crazy thing called running. I was stuck in a fitness rut and was looking for a
change. So I challenged myself to train for a half marathon. Now 5 years, a
full marathon, and 30+ half marathons later, I am still running. Needless to
say, I fell in love with this sport. After a rough day at the office, I can
just throw on my shoes run for miles and miles. It was therapy. Some people
paint; some people race cars. I run. I’ve been through at least 2 dozen pairs
of running shoes and have lost a number of toe nails. Once one race is done, it
is on to the next race. It is the perfect hobby for my little fitness soul.

My husband also developed an addiction
for running. At first, we would participate in local race events around
Northern Utah. Soon, we found ourselves at start lines for races all across the
United States. We have crossed the finish line in places like San Francisco,
Portland, Lake Tahoe, Miami, Las Vegas, New York, and Phoenix. We use running
as an excuse to travel the country (and one day the world). In fact, my husband
was recently accepted into the New
York City Marathon in November. We have our request in for an International Vacation Home Exchange for what
will likely be a fun trip to the Big Apple in the fall.

We aren’t the only ones who use running
as an excuse to travel. In fact, cities around the globe will spend money to
host big running events. They will also strategically create race courses that
will give runners a unique experience. New York, for example, will shut down
streets in downtown, just so runners can inhale intoxicating sights of the
city. San Francisco’s marathon will take runners across the Golden Gate bridge.
When I ran the Las Vegas half, the entire strip was shut down to vehicle
traffic. I got to run the Las Vegas Strip at night. It was an amazing, amazing
experience (and highly recommended).

Here’s a look at my current race bucket
list:

1)Paris Marathon

2)London Marathon

3)Tokyo Marathon

4)Honolulu Marathon

5)Walt Disney World Marathon

6)Great Wall Marathon (yes, you run along the Great Wall of China)

7)Big Five Marathon, South Africa (hopefully I won’t get attacked by a
tiger)

8)Athens Marathon

9)Berlin Marathon

10)Niagara Falls Marathon

Don’t run marathons? No problem. Many of
these events also have a half marathon and 5K available.

Now, I should mention that traveling to
run a race does take a little planning. First, you want to make sure that you
arrive a day or two before race day. One reason is because you want to be sure
you get your race packet. More importantly, you want to make sure your body is
acclimated to the time change and altitude. Altitude sickness can sideline even
the most seasoned runners, so plan accordingly. On those same lines, if you are
running a full marathon, experts do caution that you probably shouldn’t fly home
the next day, especially if you are flying internationally. You want to give
your body at least a day or two to recover. If you have questions, just talk to
your doctor.

If running isn’t your thing, no worries.
There are other hobbies that can take you places all around the globe. And I
can guarantee there are home exchanges in these places. Just talk to an International Vacation Home Exchange
coordinator. And as always, safe travels.

Thank
you to guest travel writer Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on twitter at
@crobscarla

In my house,
the Spring season always brings with it a long list of gift-giving events.Between Grads, Dads, birthdays and a host of
other occasions sprinkled in, I often struggle to think up clever gift
ideas.I find the task a bit easier if
there are travel lovers on my list.I’ve
put together some gift ideas that are sure to please any Wanderluster on your springtime
gift giving list.

The traveler
on your list will never forget their charging wires at home again with a nice
leather Charger Roll Up. I’ve
come across a few styles that are made to not only hold all of your charging
wires but come with their own charger so you can charge several devices from it
while using only one outlet.

Years ago I
invested in a leather Document Holder.
I prefer a document holder to a passport cover as the passport holders
can only fit your passport but the document holders will hold all your travel
paperwork and other documents along with your passport. The one that I have is large enough to hold
several passports so I keep my entire family’s passports (including husband’s)
safe and sound and in one place. It’s
also compact enough to easily fit into my bag without taking up a lot of
room. The leather has nicely worn in now
as it has kept us organized on trips all around the world for a number of
years.

For the
traveler who visits a variety of countries, a universal adapter is a
great gift. They’ll never have to worry
about bringing the wrong adaptor again - a perfect gift when home exchanging around the world.

For the
woman on your gift list there is nothing more useful than agood,
functional travel make up bag. I
always find toiletries the most challenging part of packing so a nicely
organized travel make up bag makes the task a bit easier. Another gift idea is a cross body bag. If she plans to travel to several cities
around the world then the best way for her to keep her belongings safe is with
a cross body bag. It’s also the perfect
size to carry all your essentials around while sightseeing without weighing you
down.

I’ve mention
a few bags for woman on your list but guys need to carry their stuff around as
well. No, I wasn’t referring to a “murse”
though I actually know a few guys who would totally appreciate the purchase but
I’m more thinking of a good backpack.
Not so much a “backpacking across Europe” backpack but more of a
sightseeing backpack. My husband carried
the same backpack around on all of our travels for several years. When he briefly misplaced it on one of our
trip he was almost more upset about the sentimentally of the bag than he was
with losing it’s contents. Look for one
that’s not too large and has just the right amount of compartments to keep
everything organized and in one place.
That backpack is a constant on all our family trips.

Whatever
destination the travelers on your gift list are heading off to there is sure to
be an International Vacation Home Exchange property located nearby. IVHE has properties in over 70 countries around the world. Click
here to read
what our clients have to say about their luxury home exchange experiences and
consider it for your next get away because after all why should friends and
family have all the travel fun.

In a recent
trip to Texas I found myself with a free day to explore the San Antonio
area. I had never visited that part of
the country before so I was eager to check out what the area had to offer. I found it to be a vibrant, up and coming and
very picturesque part of Texas. The
Texas Hill Country reaches into San Antonio providing some of the most
beautiful hilly vistas the state has to offer.
There is an abundance of great restaurants, shopping malls and
attractions all around the city and surrounding area. Here are a few of the highlights:

The Alamo which is officially known as “The Alamo
Mission in San Antonio” is the most famous of the many missions built along the
San Antonio River. The historic battle
of The Alamo took place in 1836. You can
learn all about its rich history on a tour that can be completed in under an
hour.

River Walk is a tree lined waterway running through the
heart of the city and is one of the top tourist attractions in San
Antonio. It has an abundance of shops,
bars and restaurants, offering
plenty of opportunities to sample some of the best Tex-Mex around. You might want to consider ordering the Chili
as it’s known to be San Antonio’s signature dish. Dotted with colorful umbrellas along the
waterway, River Walk takes you right through the city where you can see all the
city’s sites by either taking a stroll or by enjoying a boat ride.

Natural
Bridges Caverns isanother
top attraction. It offers a great way to
escape the Texas heat if you are visiting during the summer months as the
temperature inside the cavern never gets above 70 degrees all year round. Guided tours are available for a small
fee. While visiting the area be sure to
check out the Wildlife Ranch and the Watchtower Challenge. These are great activities if you are
traveling with young children.

If you find
yourself in San Antonio with more than 24 hours on hand, there is an abundance
of family fun activities such as Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea
World, bothlocated right in the city. If you are a hoops fan then you’ll want to be
sure to catch a San Antonio Spurs game at the AT&T Center.

I had the
privilege of visiting Lucerne and Mt. Rigi in 1993. It was the quintessential Swiss
experience—one which still lingers with me.
Lucerne is located on the northern end of Lake Lucerne. Surrounded by a medieval wall, the turreted
buildings and famous covered bridge, Kapellbrϋcke, make Lucerne a pleasure to
visit. In fact, it was so charming, I
was content just walking around town, and felt no need to buy anything but a
coffee and pastry.

After enjoying a
stroll around Lucerne, make sure to visit nearby Mt. Rigi. Something unique about Mt. Rigi is that there
is a train going all the way to the summit!
It is a wonderful ride, and the scenery is breathtaking on the way up as
well as at the summit. After a ride up,
I and my companions hiked down Mt. Rigi.
Make sure and wear comfortable shoes if you chose to do this; the hike
is steep. I still hear my Swiss hostess
exclaiming, “Die Sona bludet” (Sona is bleeding) when I showed her my torn-open,
blood blisters.

If you are lucky
enough (as I was) you could be treated to a rest area on the way down Mt. Rigi
where an alpenhorn or alpenhorns are playing, and a hot coffee with a shot of
the good stuff is served (by good stuff I think you know that I mean
alcohol—what alcohol in particular, I am still unclear to this day).

All the way down
Mt. Rigi were light brown cows with dewy, soft, expressive, and somewhat
imploring eyes. The sound of cowbells is
to me the sound of Mt. Rigi. I don’t
know how the Swiss and Switzerland do it—though a path has been traversed
numerous times, it can somehow appear as if you are the first visitor
there—pristine and untouched. The same
is true of Swiss cities—both the French-speaking and German-speaking. It is as if a centuries-old place was just
built recently—neat as a pin and ever inviting.
Another wonderful thing about Switzerland is that it has something to
offer every season of the year.
World-class skiing, idyllic countryside and towns, and friendly
residents beckon year-round.

Upon my arrival
in Copenhagen, I was greeted first by one of the oldest amusement parks in the
world, Tivoli Gardens.Also one of the world’s most visited theme
parks, Tivoli has not only rides, but also a pantomime theater and a classical
concert hall. At night, the iconic
entrance gate lights up its corner of Copenhagen adding a measure of
cheerfulness to this already colorful city.

Probably the
most photographed area of Copenhagen is Nyhavn, a seventeenth-century
waterfront along a canal reaching towards the harbor. Brightly colored historical homes and
businesses in blue, yellow, red and orange energize and gladden as you stroll
looking for one of the many places available for a meal, drink, or coffee. The best dessert waffle I had in Europe was
along this promenade.

After leaving
the Nyhavn promenade, walk toward the delightful statue of The Little Mermaid
in honor of Hans Christian Andersen who lived along Nyhavn. Beyond The Little Mermaid, Sweden’s Malmo is
visible just over the Öresund Bridge.
Cabled and understated with simple, Scandinavian lines, the Öresund
Bridge is just one of many such bridges which bind Denmark together and with
the rest of Europe. That is one of the
things so wonderful about Denmark—the simplicity of modern design along with
centuries-old architecture beckons you towards the past and draws you towards
the future.

Fyn (Funen)

Fyn is an island
in the heart of Denmark
offering both pastoral countryside and history-laden towns. Known as Denmark’s “garden island,” Fyn is
ideal for exploring by bicycle. Rolling
hills, thatched-roof farm houses, and a peaceful, bucolic environment make for
a pleasant holiday. If this pristine
countryside is not enough, consider this:
Fyn is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen and the fairytale
castle, Egeskov. Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense in
1805; his birthplace home is now a museum and well worth a visit. One can see why Hans Christian Andersen was
inspired to write fairytales just by seeing the Fyn countryside and visiting
Egeskov Castle.

Egeskov Castle
is noted as being Europe’s best preserved moat Renaissance castle. The grounds feature various gardens, hedge
mazes, a PlayForest, and a doll house, arguably one of the best in the
world. Informative and fun, Egeskov
Castle is a great destination for both adults and children.

Another great
place to visit on Fyn is Funen Village. Idyllic eighteenth and nineteenth-century,
thatched-roof homes, period farm animals, and “living history”—villagers
dressed in period clothing during the summer—provide an escape from the modern
world. There is also a family theater
for a couple of months during the summer.

Whether you’re
taking that dream vacation, visiting the grandchildren or playing in a big golf
tournament chances are you’re going to need to board a plane to get there. Long flights on crowded airplanes probably
aren’t tops on your list of ways to spend your retirement years but more often
than not it’s a necessity. Here are a
few tips for senior
travelers to help make your next flight a little more tolerable.

Arrange for
Wheelchair Assistance Even if you don’t normally require a
wheelchair or any special assistance you can arrange to have a wheelchair ready
for you at check in and to use again after you reach your destination. I always make wheelchair arrangements for my
mother when she travels to visit us. She
is fully able bodied but traveling in her 80s I don’t want her to have to
navigate through an airport and walk long distances before boarding her
flight. This is a free service offered
by the airlines and they have always been more than happy to make these
arrangements for me. This will afford
you the luxury of having assistance at baggage claim, be able to board early
and the peace of mind that the crew will check on you during your flight to
ensure you don’t have any issues or difficulties once in flight. It’s well worth the phone call.

Stay
Hydrated

The low
cabin humidity is very dehydrating so it’s important to be sure to drink plenty
of water during your flight. This will
also help minimize swollen legs and ankles.
Try to limit your intake of alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks
as they tend to increase dehydration.

Choose Seats
Carefully

When
choosing your seats, try to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible
so you can easily get on and off the plane quickly and easily. Choose an aisle seat so you can get up often
without disturbing other passengers.
Whenever possible, book seats with extra leg room.

Wear
Compression Airplane Socks

It’s
worthwhile to purchase a pair of airplane socks. The compression helps with the circulation in
your legs. Once you arrive at your
destination lie down and elevate your legs for a bit if possible.

Move Often

Try to
frequently stand up and walk up and down the aisle once you’re in flight. For times when it’s necessary to stay seated
with your seatbelt fastened, be sure to wiggle your toes and stretch your legs.

Don’t let
the thought of having to get on a plane discourage you from enjoying your
retirement years. International
Vacation Home Exchange has luxury properties in 70 countries around
the world including many luxurygolf and beach
properties to enjoy. Click
here to choose which destination you’ll be jetting off to.

Thank you to
travel writer Lisa Medeiros. Follow her
on Twitter @lisamedeiros_